Incinerator

ABSTRACT

An incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber and a stack is improved by having a blower force air through nozzles arranged in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber so that blasts of air from the nozzles extend to the central region of the primary furnace and collide in the combustion chamber to produce a turbulent region substantially slowing the passage of gasses through the combustion chamber. Also, a supply of fuel is adjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel to make the air blasts from the nozzles into flame blasts for maintaining desired temperatures in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber. The amount of fuel mixed with the forced air is preferably regulated automatically, and the turbulence form the blasts in the combustion chamber facilitates complete combustion and acts as a fly ash precipitator.

United States Patent Thomas P. Mancuso 130 Ackerman St., Rochester, N.Y.14609 [2]] Appl. No. 861,052

[22] Filed Sept. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [72] inventor [54]INCINERATOR 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

{52] U.S.Cl 110/8 C, 110/119 [51] Int. Cl F23g 5/12 [50] FieldofSearchll0/7,8, 18, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,064,477 6/1913 Hatchl10/8X 1,995,723 3/1935 Van Denburg 110/8 2,869,487 1/1959 Sherman 110/83,323,475 6/1967 Melgaard 110/8 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. SpragueAtt0rney-Cumpston, Shaw & Stephens ABSTRACT: An incinerator having aprimary furnace, a combustion chamber and a stack is improved by havinga blower force air through nozzles arranged in the primary furnace andthe combustion chamber so that blasts of air from the nozzles extend tothe central region of the primary furnace and collide in the combustionchamber to produce a turbulent region substantially slowing the passageof gasses through the combustion chamber. Also, a supply of fuel isadjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions up to the optimumfuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel to make the airblasts from the nozzles into flame blasts for maintaining desiredtemperatures in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber. Theamount of fuel mixed with the forced air is preferably regulatedautomatically, and the turbulence form the blasts in the combustionchamber facilitates complete combustion and acts as a fly ashprecipitator.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 7710/2125 Bil/1551150 BY f 6 INCINERATOR Tl-IE INVENTIVEIMPROVEMENT Refuse incinerators have normally used a primary furnace forburning and vaporizing the refuse, a combustion chamber for furtherburning of the vapors from the refuse, an expansion chamber outlet fromthe combustion chamber, and a stack for discharging the combustionproducts and providing a draft. Such incinerators have been onlypartially successful in that refuse was incompletely burned and notsubstantially reduced, the combustion of vapors from the refuse wasincomplete, and the stack discharged dense smoke and fly ash. Varioussuggestions have been made for improving such incinerators includingauxiliary burners, smoke scrubbers, and precipitators, but incineratorsstill produce obnoxious smoke and odors and do an incomplete job ofreducing the refuse.

The invention involves analysis of the inadequacies of previousincinerators and suggests improvements that are simple, effective, andreliable in making such incinerators burn and reduce the refuse fully,subject vapors to complete combustion, and fairly thoroughly remove flyash from the smoke before discharge from the stack. The invention alsoaims at increased speed and efficiency of incinerators, greaterreduction of refuse and elimination of smoke, odors, etc. from the stackdischarge. The invention aims to accomplish these results in a simpleand reliable system that is easily operated and maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish such improvements, nozzles arearranged in the primary furnace of the incinerator, and an air blowerforces air through the nozzles into the primary furnace. The nozzles arearranged so substantial blasts of air extend into the central region ofthe primaryfurnace. Other nozzles are arranged in the combustion chamberbetween its inlet and outlet, and the blower forces air through thesenozzles so that air blasts collide within the combustion chamber toproduce a turbulent region extending across the combustion chamber forsubstantially slowing the passage of gasses through the combustionchamber. Fuel is adjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions upto the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel sothat a fuel-air mixture is delivered to the nozzles of the primaryfurnace and the combustion chamber as desired. Preferably the fuel-airmixture is automatically regulated to convert the air blasts into flameblasts to maintain desired temperatures in the primary furnace and thecombustion chamber.

DRAWINGS The drawing shows a schematic view of an incinerator equippedwith the inventive improvements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Incinerator includes a primary furnace 11, apassageway 12 from primary furnace 11 into combustion chamber 13, anoutlet passageway 14 leading from combustion chamber 13 and forming anexpansion chamber, and a stack 15. Primary furnace 11 has a top opening16 covered by a door 17 that can be opened for charging primary furnace11 with refuse dropped from a loading device 18. Furnace 11 alsoincludes a grate 19 for supporting refuse 20, and a door 2] below grate19 can be opened for removing the ashes of reduced refuse 20.

Refuse 20 is burned and vaporized in primary furnace l1 and the vaporstravel through passageway 12 as shown by the solid arrows intocombustion chamber 13 where further combustion of the gasses occurs.Passageway 12 forms an inlet to combustion chamber 13, and expansionchamber 14 forms an outlet from combustion chamber 13. A door 22 at thebottom of combustion chamber 13 can be opened for removing ashesaccumulating in the bottom of combustion chamber l3.

A water-spray scrubber 13 is arranged in expansion chamber 14 fordirecting a spray of water 24 across expansion chamber 14 to precipitatefly ash from the gasses passing toward stack 15.

In actual practice of the prior art, incinerators were operated on abatch basis, and refuse was burned for an hour or two and then pulledfrom furnace 11 and a new charge of refuse was ignited and burned.Incinerator 10 is arranged for continuous operation which is feasiblebecause refuse 20 is reduced substantially and a much smaller volume isash is removed from furnace 11. An air knife 26 powered by blower 25directs a high-velocity sheet of air under door 17 so that when door 17is opened for charging furnace l1, gasses and flames do not escapethrough top opening 16. Charges of refuse 20 can then be dropped fromloader 18 into furnace 11 periodically during its operation, and ashescan be removed periodically through door 21 while furnace ll burnsrefuse 20 continuously.

A plurality of nozzles 27 are arranged around primary furnace 11 justabove the normal level of burning refuse 20. Nozzles 27 are fed forcedair from blower 25 through line 28 and shutoff valve 29. Nozzles 27 arearranged so that air blasts from each outlet 27 extend into the centralregion of furnace 11 and passes over or through the upper layers ofrefuse 20 to create turbulence in furnace 11 as shown by the broken linearrows. Also, fresh charges of refuse 20 pass through the blasts fromnozzles 27 as they are dropped in furnace 1]. The blasts from nozzle 27are preferably contiguous or impinging in the central region of furnacel1 and are of sufficient velocity to agitate refuse 20 somewhat andenhance its combustion.

A fuel supply 30 containing preferably a gaseous fuel is starting todischarge fuel through valve 31 and controller 32 into line 28 to bemixed with the incinerator, air passing through line 28 to nozzles 27.When fuel is mixed with the forced air in line 28, it converts theblasts from nozzles 27 into flame blasts which facilitate the burning ofrefuse 20 and maintain a desired temperature in furnace 11. Atemperaturesensitive device 33 is arranged in furnace 11 and isconnected with controller 32 for adjusting the fuel-air mixture in line28. Various circumstances change the optimum adjustment, but preferablythe fuel-air ratio in line 28 contains at least enough air for completecombustion of the fuel in line 28, In starting up the incinerator flamesare blasted from. nozzles 27 to bring the temperature of furnace 11 upto the desired value before it is charged with refuse 20. If refuse 20is relatively dry and formed of materials that burn well, its combustionwill maintain the desired temperature in furnacell, and temperaturesensor 33 will signal controller 32 to shut off or reduce the fuelsupply to line 28 so that the air blasts from nozzles 27 contain littleor no fuel but continue to supply plenty of air and the desiredturbulence over refuse 20.

A plurality of nozzles 34 are arranged in combustion chamber 13 betweeninlet passageway 12 and outlet passageway 14. Nozzles 34 are fed forcedair through line 35 from blower 25 for directing blasts of air intocombustion chambers 13. A shutoff valve 36 is arranged in line 35.

Nozzles 34 are arranged around combustion chamber l3 so as to directblasts of air into combustion chamber 13 in such a way that the blastscollide to produce a turbulent region extending across combustionchamber l3. Such turbulence is schematically shown by the broken linearrows, and in the illustrated embodiment, nozzles 34 are arrangedopposite each other so that opposing blasts of air meet in the center ofcombustion chamber 13.

Other arrangements for nozzles 34 are also possible within the spirit ofthe invention; for example, nozzles 34 can be aimed so that theircolliding blasts produce a whirlpool effect in combustion chamber 13.Preferably the turbulence from colliding blasts of air from nozzles 34is sufficient to extend substantially across combustion chamber 13 andfor substantially slowing down the gasses passing through combustionchamber 13. Gasser; and vapors passing through combustion chamber 13 arecaught in the turbulent zone between nozzles 34 and mixed violentlyabout. This allows more time for complete Combustion of such vapors andalso facilitates combustion by thoroughly mixing the air from nozzles 34with the gasses to be burned. 5

Another effect of the turbulence produced by the air blasts from nozzles34 is to deionize fly ash passing through chamber 13. Fly ash fromprimary furnace 11 is normally substantially ionized, and this makes itsrecovery more difficult. The turbulence in the region of nozzles 34tends to deionize the fly ash and draw positive and negative particlestogether. The result is that much fly ash is precipitated in-charnber 13for withdrawal through bottom door 22, and the remainder is deionizedand more easily scrubbed out of the smoke by scrubber spray 24. Hence,the blasts from nozzles 34 act as turbulence precipitator.

Preferably gaseous fuel from source 30 is fed through valve 37 andcontroller 38 into line 35 for mixing with the forced air in line 35 andintroduction into chamber 13 through nozzles 34. This converts airblasts from nozzles 34 to flame blasts when the fuel ignites in chamber13. A temperature sensor 39 is arranged in chamber 13 and connected withcontroller 38 for regulating the amount of fuel mixed with the airstream in line 35. The fuel-air mixture introduced through nozzles 34preferably has more air than necessary for complete com bustion of thefuel, and controller 38 preferably regulates the fuel introduced in line35 to keep combustion chamber 13 at a predetermined temperature. Whencombustion of gasses passing through chamber 13 produces enough heat tomaintain the desired temperature in chamber 13, sensor 39 preferablysignals controller 38 to shut off the fuel entirely so that only air isblasted from nozzles 34.

Scrubber spray 24 is preferably collected in drain 41 at the bottom ofexpansion chamber 14 and in reservoir 40. Water from reservoir 40 ispreferably recirculated through scrubber 23 by pump 43 drawing waterthrough filter 42. The water in reservoir 40 offers an advantageoussupply of heat, and heat exchanger 44 is connected with reservoir 40 forremoving heat from the water in reservoir 40. Heat exchanger 40 can bearranged for melting snow removed from streets and sidewalks, and formany other heating purposes. Also, water from reservoir 40 can be usedfor washing trucks. When the water in reservoir 40 becomes too dirty fordesired uses it can be discharged and replaced with fresh water. Also,if the demands on heat exchanger 44 exceed the heat available fromreservoir. 40, controller 45 pumps water from reservoir 40 through lines46 and 48 and coil 47 arranged in combustion chamber 13 for adding heatto reservoir 40.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that otherembodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances.Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing anddefining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or relatedembodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this applicationbut falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, nozzles,control elements, fuel systems, and other details can be readily variedand adapted by those skilled in the art, and persons experienced withincinerators will understand how to adapt the principles of theinvention to existing and future incinerators. Many pieces of equipmentare presently available for practicing the invention in ways other thanthe one schematically illustrated.

I claim: 1. In an incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustionchamber, and a stack, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said primary furnace; b. means forforcing air through said nozzles; c. said nozzles being arranged sosubstantial blasts of said air extend to the central region of saidprimary furnace; d. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said combustionchamber between the inlet and the outlet of said combustion chamber;

e. means for forcing air through said combustion chamber nozzles; saidcombustion chamber nozzles being directed into said combustion chamberso that blasts from said nozzles collide to produce a turbulent regionextending across said combustion chamber for substantially slowing thepassage of gasses through said combustion chambers;

g. means responsive to the temperature of said primary furnace foradjustablymixing a fuel with said air forced through said primaryfurnace nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio forcomplete combustion of said fuel; and

h. means responsive to the temperature of said combustion chamber foradjustably mixing a fuel with said air forced through said combustionchamber nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio forcomplete combustion of said fuel.

2. The incinerator of claim 1 including means for charging said primaryfurnace with refuse, and said primary furnace nozzles being arrangedjust above the normal level of said refuse in said primary furnace.

3. The incinerator of claim 2 including an air knife arranged below anopening at the top of said primary furnace to permit charging of saidfurnace with said refuse while said furnace is operating.

4. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said primary furnace nozzles arearranged opposite one another across said primary furnace.

5. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber nozzlesare arranged opposite each other across said combustion chamber.

6. The incinerator of claim 1 including a water scrubber arrangedbetween said combustion chamber and said stack.

7. The incinerator of claim 6 including a reservoir for collecting waterfrom said scrubber, and a heat exchanger for removing heat from saidwater.

8. The incinerator of claim 7 including a water passageway between saidreservoir and said incinerator arranged for maintaining the temperatureof said water in said reservoir at a predetermined value.

1. In an incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber, anda stack, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of nozzles arrangedin said primary furnace; b. means for forcing air through said nozzles;c. said nozzles being arranged so substantial blasts of said air extendto the central region of said primary furnace; d. a plurality of nozzlesarranged in said combustion chamber between the inlet and the outlet ofsaid combustion chamber; e. means for forcing air through saidcombustion chamber nozzles; f. said combustion chamber nozzles beingdirected into said combustion chamber so that blasts from said nozzlescollide to produce a turbulent region extending across said combustionchamber for substantially slowing the passage of gasses through saidcombustion chambers; g. means responsive to the temperature of saidprimary furnace for adjustably mixing a fuel with said air forcedthrough said primary furnace nozzles in proportions up to the optimumfuelair ratio for complete combustion of said fuel; and h. meansresponsive to the temperature of said combustion chamber for adjustablymixing a fuel with said air forced through said combustion chambernozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for completecombustion of said fuel.
 2. The incinerator of claim 1 including meansfor charging said primary furnace with refuse, and said primary furnacenozzles being arranged just above the normal level of said refuse insaid primary furnace.
 3. The incinerator of claim 2 including an airknife arranged below an opening at the top of said primary furnace topermit charging of said furnace with said refuse while said furnace isoperating.
 4. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said primary furnacenozzles are arranged opposite one another across said primary furnace.5. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber nozzlesare arranged opposite each other across said combustion chamber.
 6. Theincinerator of claim 1 including a water scrubber arranged between saidcombustion chamber and said stack.
 7. The incinerator of claim 6including a reservoir for collecting water from said scrubber, and aheat exchanger for removing heat from said water.
 8. The incinerator ofclaim 7 including a water passageway between said reservoir and saidincinerator arranged for maintaining the temperature of said water insaid reservoir at a predetermined value.